Dry cleaning apparatus



1 1934; ANGELUS ET AL, ,984,513

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Fil d F 9, 9 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TORS, Louis Angela's, Daniel LWWBy M W ATTOR EYS.

Dec. 18, 1934. L, ANGELU'S ET AL 1,984,513

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 9, 1932 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS, Louis Angelzw, 0

ATTORNE s.

Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Louis Angelus, New York, and Daniel Lawrence Baylis, Long Island, N. Y.; said Baylis assignor to said Angelus Application February 9, 1932, Serial No. 591,806

1 Claim.

Our present invention relates generally to apparatus of the type used in dry-cleaning processes, and has particular reference to work cham bers wherein obnoxious yet valuable fumes are evolved or used.

Although we have herein illustrated and shall hereinafter describe our invention as it relates to an apparatus designed primarily for dry-cleaning purposes, it will be understood that certain phases of our invention are by no means restricted to apparatus or chambers of the specific character or utility herein referred to.

In carrying out a dry-cleaning process in which the articles to be cleaned are subjected to the action of a cleaning fluid, it is customary to employ a work chamber which is of a substantially gas-tight character. The articles are placed in the chamber; the cleaning fluid is introduced and the articles are then subjected to the action of this fluid, usually with the aid of certain operative mechanism which agitates the contents of the chamber. customarily, the fluid is then withdrawn, the articles are subjected to a centrifugal movement, and they are then ready for removal.

Most of the cleaning fluids that are used are of a highly volatile type and evolve fumes of an obnoxious character. Accordingly, in the absence of any provision to the contrary, many of these fumes will escape into the room when the work chamber is opened. Apart from the fact that the fumes are highly obnoxious and often dangerous, they are of a valuable character and any wastage is uneconomical. For this reason, efforts to exhaust the fumes from the chamber, or to replace or dilute them by an aeration process, have heretofore necessitated the provision of relatively expensive and cumbersome apparatus for reclaiming the fumes, as by condensation.

It is a general object of our present invention to provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus which may be constructed in small, economical, and compact sizes; which it is devoid of expensive exhausting apparatus, valves, or condensers; and which nevertheless may be employed economically, without material loss or wastage of fumes, and without any undesirable escape of such fumes into the room.

It is a more particular object of our invention to provide a work chamber of the general character mentioned, constructed in a novel and improved manner, and coupled with a novel type of exhausting means in such a way that during work periods the fumes in the chamber remain substantially intact, while the slightest opening of the chamber between work periods will automati cally result in the creation of a draft which will prevent escape of fumes into the room. In accordance with our present invention, this draft is of a particular character and follows a particular predetermined path, serving no other purpose than to prevent the emanation of those fumes that would ordinarily and otherwise have emanated from the chamber, and involving no substantial loss or exhaustion of the valuable fumes.

One of the features of our invention lies in the association with a work chamber of a constantly driven exhaust fan which is in constant and permanent association with the interior of the chamber but which is so constructed and arranged that it creates the draft hereinbefore mentioned only when the chamber isopened, and not otherwise. More particularly, it is a feature of our invention to provide the chamber with an openable lid which permits access to the interior of the chamber and which is provided with means for closing the lid in a substantially gas-tight manner;. and in providing an exhaust fan which is of insufiicient power to exhaust fumes from the chamber except when the lid is in an open condition.

One of the novel structural features contributing to this desirable result lies in the employment of a fan or blower of the free air variety, 1. e., one which does not positively produce any substantial suction or vacuum on one side. A fan of this character has the inherent capability of idling and, though constantly driven, it may be caused to produce a flow of gases only when the gases operated upon do not offer any substantial resistance to movement.

Another feature of our invention lies in the provision of a hingedlid for the chamber, together with a conduit establishing a permanent communication between the interior of the chamber and the fan. In accordance with our invention, the lid and conduit are associated with the top wall of a substantially cylindrical chamber, and the lid is arranged in such a manner that its free marginal edge is adapted to engage and cooperate with the free upper edge of the side wall of the chamber. As a result of this arrangement, the draft which is automatically induced the instant that the lid is opened by even the slightest amount is one which is directed only over the upper edge of the side wall, thence beneath the top wall of the chamber, and toward the conduit. Such a draft does not exhaust any material quantities of fumes, but it serves in a highly efficient and striking portion of the top wall 11, and it is so shaped manner merely to prevent the escape into the room of those fumes that would otherwise overflow the upper edge of the side wall.

Other objects and features of our invention lie in the novel arrangement of the parts which permits the contents of the chamber to be constantly visible under illumination; which provides for the contemplated construction and functioning without any impairment due to vibration of the chamber; and which results in the production of a device of extreme simplicity, convenience, and economy.

We achieve the foregoing objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of a chamber constructed in accordance with our present invention, showing diagrammatically the manner in which the exhaust fan is associated therewith; and

Figure 2 is. an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view through the upper portion of the chamber.

The chamber illustrated is of the type and size which may be conveniently and economically installed in stores or similar relatively small establishments for the accomplishment of drycleaning processes upon clothes, dresses, and the like.

The chamber which we have illustrated is substantially cylindrical and is provided with the substantially flat top wall 11. In accordance with our present invention, an openable lid 12 is arranged in hinged relationship along the top wall, and forms, in fact, an essential part of the top wall when in closed condition, as illustrated in Figure 1. Communicating with the interior of the chamber 10, through the top wall 11, is the conduit 13 which extends to the suction side of a free air exhaust fan or blower 14 arranged in any suitable manner in association with the wall 15 of the room or building in which the chamber 10 is accommodated. Preferably, though not necessarily, the fan. 14 is arranged within a chamber or box 16 which communicates at its outlet end 1'7 with theioutside atmosphere, and which is provided on the inside with an opening 18 communicating, directly with the room. The lid 12 is shown] open in Figure 2, and the dot-anddash lines show the same in the position it assumes when it is closed.

The lid 12 is hinged, as at 19, to the fixed rear and constructed that its free marginal edge 20 is adapted to engage with and cooperate with the upper free edge 21 of the side wall of the chamber 10. This marginal edge is provided with the packing 22, held within a suitable marginal recess in the lid 12 so that when the lid is closed and clamped down, for example, by clamps of the type shown at 23 in Figure 1,

. the chamber will be sealed-in a substantially gas-tight manner. To insure this gas-tight clossure ofthe chamber, a packing 24 is associated with the hinged edge of the lid 12.

The lid is also preferably provided with a window. 25 suitably clamped in position between theclamping rings 26 and 27 and with the assistance of gaskets 28 and 29.

The type of apparatus shown in the drawings is of the'character in which a control handle 30 which is normally held in the position of Figure 2 by means of the spring-pressed detent 31, may be pushed downwardly, at desired times, so that its lower end 32 may be brought into cooperative relationship with the upper end 33 of the operative cleaning mechanism designated generally by the reference numeral 34. The mechanism forms no part of our invention, but it may be stated in passing that the handle 30 controls the rela tive adjustments of the parts forming the cleaning mechanism34, and is used in conjunction with the handle 35 and the foot pedal 36 to permit various desired objects to be accomplished, via, introduction of fluid, withdrawal of fluid, agitation, centrifugal action, etc.

The conduit 13 communicates with the interior of the chamber 10, through the top wall 11, as indicated in Figure 2, a connection being established by means of the cap screws 87 and with the assistance of a gasket 38. The fitting 39 thus attached to the chamber is also provided with a compartment 40 adapted to accommodate an electric light 41, and this compartment is separated in a substantially gas-tight manner from the interior of the chamber 10 by means of the window 42 clamped into position in substantially the same manner as the window 25 hereinbefore described.

One of the features of our invention lies in constructing the conduit 13 with the flexible portion 43 arranged adjacent'to the chamber 10, whereby vibrations of the chamber 10 during the performance of the centrifugal operation therein will be absorbed by the flexible portion 43 and will be prevented from interfering with the fixity of the main conduit 13 and of the exhaust fan associated therewith.

In using our present apparatus, the operator first inserts the articles through the lid 12. He then closes the lid and clamps it shut, whereby the interior of the chamber is sufficiently sealed to permit the dry-cleaning process to be carried out., The exhaust fan 14 is then caused to operate, and is maintained in an operative and constantly driven condition as long as the apparatus is used. After the cleaning fluid has been introduced, the articles are agitated and rotated in the conventional manner, but the fumes which are evolved will remain substantially intact within the chamber despite the permanent communication with the interior of the chamber of the exhaust fan 14. In other words, the ex haust fan 14 is constructed andarranged in such a manner that it develops insuflicient suction to exhaust fumes through the conduit 13 as long as the chamber 10 is sealed in a substantially gas-tight manner, there being sufficient resistance to withdrawal of fumes to prevent any appreciable movement through the conduit 13and through the fan 14. The fan is thus virtually idling.

However, the instant that the lid 12 is opened by the operator, the fan 14 becomes operative to induce an outward draft through the conduit 13. The source of this draft lies in the small streams of air which flow in the direction of the arrows 44. It is to be noted that these streams pass over the upper edge of the side wall of the chamber, thence underneath the top wall of the chamber, and thence into and through the conduit 13. No exhaustion or withdrawal of the main body of fumes takes place, the draft 44 serving merely to prevent escape into the room of those-uppermost fumes which would otherwise and normally flow over the upper edge of the chamber.

It is to be particularly noted that this draft is not only automatically created, but that it comes into being the instant that the lid is loosened or opened by the slightest degree. Similarly, this draft is completely and automatically destroyed as soon as the lid is clamped into a closed condition. Accordingly, our invention provides for anabsolute prevention of any undesirable escape of fumes into the room while at the same time avoiding any unnecessary and uneconomical withdrawal or appreciable losses of fumes from the chamber.

By virtue of our present arrangement, no expensive exhausting means are required, since the fumes are at no time completely evacuated from the chamber. Also, no condensation apparatus, or valve arrangements, are necessary, since the fumes are never in need of condensation or reclamation.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of our invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, and illustrated its use, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- In a dry-cleaning apparatus of the character described, a work chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned, the top wall of the chamber being provided with an openable, hinged lid to permit access to the interior of the chamber, a window in said lid, means for closing the lid in a substantially gas-tight manner to prevent escape of obnoxious fumes during the cleaning process, a constantly driven exhaust fan, a conduit extending from the interior of the chamber to said fan, said fan developing insuflicient suction to exhaust fumes through said conduit except when the lid is opened, and a lamp arranged to project a light beam into the sealed chamber through said conduit; whereby the cleaning procedure will be constantly visible through the window in the lid, and whereby the slightest opening of the lid will immediately create a fume-exhausting draft through said conduit.

LOUIS ANGELUS. DANIEL L. BAYLIS. 

